Light fixtures with diffuser retention means



Feb. 20, 1968 F. GREEN 3,370,164

LIGHT FIXTURES WITH DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Filed Spt. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'E INVENTOR.

l FREDERIC LEE GREEN 7 ll!!! BY AT TORNE Y5 F. L. GREEN 3,

LIGHT FIXTURES WITH DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Feb. 20, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. F REDER/C. LEE GREEN ATTORNEYS 3,370,164 LIGHT FIXTURES WITH DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Frederic Lee Green, El Cerrito, Califi, assignor to Prescolite Manufacturing Corporation, San Leandro, Califi, a corporation of California Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 488,497 7 Claims. (Cl. 240147) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recessed lighting fixture is described which includes a diffuser mounting means by which the diffuser closing the open end of the light housing can be securely retained in a position below and spaced from the housing to permit servicing of the housing interior. The mounting means includes a set of brackets on diametrically opposed interior wall portions of the housing supporting elongated bar members for slidable movement longitudinally of the housing. The lower ends of the bar members are adapted for securance to the diffuser, and springs coact with the bar member and the brackets to urge the bars inwardly. Intermediate the end of each of the bars, a notch is provided which can be hooked on an end portion of the brackets and operate against the force of the spring to securely position the diffuser below and spaced from the housing.

Disclosure This invention relates to means for retaining a diffuser element in a light fixture in such a manner that the diffuser is selectively movable between a position in closing relation to the light housing of the fixture, and a second position wherein access to the housing interior is facilitated. The invention is more particularly directed to spring operated retention means for the foregoing purpose.

In various light fixtures, it is desirable that the diffuser element of the fixture be secured to the light housing thereof in such a manner as to permit movement of the diffuser between open and closed positions relative to the housing while at all times retentively supporting the diffuser from the housing. More particularly, access to the interior of the housing, as for purposes of replacing light bulbs or other lighting elements therein, is facilitated when the diffuser is in open position. By virtue of the continuous support of the diffuser from the housing including times when the diffuser is in open position, the lighting element replacement function is greatly simplified. It is not necessary to first remove the diffuser from the fixture to afford access to the interior of the housing. The diffuser is merely manipulated to its rctentively supported open position whereupon both hands are free for the accomplishment of lighting element replacement.

Heretofore, the diffuser retention means employed in the continuous support of the diffuser during movement between closed and open positions have been relatively complex, particularly in the instance of a recessed fixture. In a recessed fixture the diffuser is positioned substantially flush with a ceiling or wall, and simple hinged attachment of the diffuser to the housing cannot be employed because the ceiling or Wall obstructs pivotal movement of the diffuser about the hinge axis. Accordingly, rather elaborate retention mechanisms have been employed which States Patent 3,370,164 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 ice facilitate supported movement of the diffuser to a position sufficiently displaced from the ceiling or Wall that the diffuser may then be unobstructively pivoted to an open position. By virtue of the complexity of these previous diffuser retaining mechanisms they have added substantially to the overall cost of the fixture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide diffuser retention means of relatively simple design which are particularly suited to use in recessed lighting fixtures to facilitate continuously supported movement of the diffuser between closed and open positions relative to the light housing thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of retention means of the class described in the form of a spring operated mechanism effective in one position to retain a diffuser in closed relation to a light housing while I being resiliently yieldable to a second position wherein the diffuser is positively supported in a fixed displaced relation to the housing but may be pivoted to provide for full access to the housing interior.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a diffuser retention mechanism of the class described which is applicable to fixtures having light housings of either circular or rectangular cross section.

It is still another object of the invention to provide diffuser retention mechanism of the character outlined hereinbefore which is adjustable to accommodate ceilings of different thicknesses, and will firmly support the diffuser in closed position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a diffuser retention mechanism of the class described which while being of extremely low cost design is yet highly effective in accomplishing its intended diffuser retention and support functions.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred forms of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a lighting fixture embodying the present invention, the diffuser of the fixture being depicted in closed position relative to the light housing.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view somewhat similar to FIGURE 1, but depicting the diffuser in open position relative to the light housing.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the fixture taken in a diametric plane rotated 90 degrees with respect to the sectional plane of FIGURE 1, and depicting the diffuser in the pivoted open position shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the bar and bracket mechanism used for securing the diffuser to the lighting fixture.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 4 of another type of bar and bracket arrangement, but with the spring removed.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the lighting fixture of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views of another modified form of retaining means, FIGURE 7 showing the parts with the bar in retracted position and FIGURE 8 showing the bar in extended position.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGURES 7 and 8 of another modified form of the retaining means.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4, there will be seen a lighting fixture which in the present instance includes a light housing 22 of circular cross section, and being substantially closed at one end and provided with an opening at the other. A supporting flange 24 projects outwardly from the housing adjacent its open end to engage the upper or unexposed surface of a ceiling 26, or other wall, about an opening 28 provided therein. Flange 24 has an upturned angle portion 25 secured to the housing 22 by means of screws 27 or the like. The flange thus supports the housing in recessed position relative to the ceiling and only a small portion adjacent the open end of the housing extends into opening 28. A socket 30 is provided within the housing at the closed end thereof for threadably receiving an incandescent light bulb 32, and

a junction box 34 is mounted upon the closed end of the housing to facilitate electrical wiring of the socket. More than one bulb, or lighting elements of other types such as fluorescent tubes, may of course be similarly mounted within the housing. In any event, it will be appreciated that with the housing mounted in recessed position relative to the ceiling, access to the housing interior for purposes of replacing the bulb 32, or other lighting elements, is only provided through the open lower end of the housing.

The open lower end of the light housing of a recessed lighting fixture such as fixture 20 is conventionally closed by a diffuser or other light transmitting element here indicated by the reference numeral 36. To facilitate mounting of the diffuser element 36 there is provided a mounting ring 38 having as here shown inwardly and outwardly projecting annular flanges 39 and 40, respectively, at its lower end. The diffuser is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 41 which is seated upon the inwardly projecting flange 39 and fitted within the upwardly extending flange 42 of ring 38. With the ring 38 positioned with its flange 42 concentrically disposed within the open lower end of the housing 22 as shown in FIG- URE 1, the diffuser 36 will fully close the opening 28 of the housing, and the outwardly projecting flange of the ring will fiushly engage the lower surface of the ceiling about such opening. As a result the light housing and opening are neatly obscured from view.

In accordance with the present invention, retention of the diffuser element 36 in the above noted closing relation to the open end of the light housing 22 is facilitated by means of a retaining arrangement or mechanism 44 of unique design. More particularly, the arrangement as here shown, in general includes a pair of diametrically opposed bars 45 supported on the inner side of the light housing wall and designed to be secured at their lower end to the diffuser supporting ring 38, the bars being supported for generally vertical movement and held against downward displacement by means of springs 46 arranged for operative association with both bars and the housing. The bars, as is shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, are mounted in brackets 48 aflixed to the housing wall on the inner side thereof by means of tongues 50 or the like. The brackets are preferably positioned fairly close to the open end of the housing and are provided with vertically spaced angular projections 52 and 54 containing slots 56 and 58 respectively in which the bars are fitted for vertical or longitudinal displacement. The springs are preferably coiled about the upper portions of the bars and located between the projections 52 and keepers 60 at the upper ends of the bars. Thus the springs tend to keep the bars in an elevated position. The bars as aforesaid are arranged to be connected to the diffuser supporting ring 38 so that in the upward position of the bars, the ring will be securely held pressed against the under or exposed face of the ceiling, and conversely when the bars bracket is formed with a hook 62 which is arranged for,

releasable connection with a link 64 pivotally secured to the ring 38 preferably at the outer side of the upwardly extending flange 42 of the ring. The link is fastened in place by a screw 66 which also engages a clip 68. which holds the diffuser flange 41 against the ring. The bars are permitted limited lateral displacement in the bracket slots, and in order to keep the bars in a depressed position, such as when access to the interior of the housing is desired, each bar is formed with a shoulder 70 which may be caused to engage under the lower projection 54 of the bracket by moving the bar laterally when the latter is sufficiently depressed. This will be clear by reference to FIGURE 2. As will be noted the shoulder 70 is formed at the bottom of a depression 72 so that when the shoulder is operatively engaged with the lower projection 54, the bars will be retained in a locked position by the springs.

As will be understood, the springs 46 will be made so that relatively little force will be needed on the part of the operator to pull the ring and diffuser downwardly when it is desired to expose the opening to the housing, and when the bars are disposed in the lower position ,in-

dicated in FIGURES 2 and 3, one of the links may then be detached from the associated hook so that the ring and diffuser may be swung downwardly to permit free access to the interior of the housing such as for replacing the light 32. To return the ring and diffuser to the elevated position, the lowered side of the ring is swung upward by the operator and the link reattached to the hook; then the ring is pulled slightly downwardly and rotated sufficiently to release the shoulders, whereupon the operator will permit the springs to lift the ring and diffuser to closed position.

In FIGURE 5, the bracket design with the two connected projections, is replaced by a set of projections 74 i and 76 punched separately from the housing wall, these projections defining slots 78 and 80 for the reception of the bars. In this instance the shoulder 70 on each bar is designed for cooperation with an end portion of projection 76. Furthermore, the upper portion of the .bars in this construction is split longitudinally and the two resulting tongues 81 bent over in opposite directions to provide retention of the spring without the necessity of a separate keeper.

In FIGURE 6, a somewhat modified arrangement is shown in which the retention bars extend to the exterior of the light housing. In this embodiment, part of the bars is positioned on the exterior of the light housing, and the springs are interposed between the keepers at the upper end of the bars and the shelf 82 of the housing. Otherwise, the parts are substantially asdisclosed in FIGURES 1 to 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8, the arrangement is such as to provide for a more closely coupled relationship of the parts longitudinally of the housing. Oneof the bars 83 is illus-.

trated and as here showni the bar besides extending through slot 84 in lower projection 86 of bracket 87, is

provided with an angular extension 88 formed to slide on.

ment of the latter in a bearing opening 92 in extension 88. A compression spring 93 encircles the rod 89 and fits be-.

tween projection 86 and extension 88 to norm-ally retain the bar retracted such as when the diffuser is to be held in closed position. Bar 83 is formed with a shoulder and notch arrangement 94 similar to that shown in the bars of the previously described embodiments, and thus bar 83 when pulled down against resistance of the spring to an extended position may be locked to retain the diffuser and ring 38 in open position.

In FIGURES 9 and 10, the bar 96 is designed for use with a tension spring 97, one end of which is attached to the upper portion of a mounting bracket 98 while the other end is attached to the lower portion of the bar. The bar is guided for vertical movement in the bracket by means of a snap-in stud 99 which engages in a slot 101 in the bar. Assisting in guiding the bar in the bracket are transversely spaced lugs 102, under one of which the notch and shoulder 103 of the bar may engage to hold the bar in downwardly extended relation when the bar is swung sideways as indicated in FIGURE 10. Preferably the spring is attached to the bracket adjacent the edge closest to the edge of the bar on which the notch is provided. In this manner when the bar is extended, it will be automatically moved sideways to cause the notch and shoulder portion to engage under the adjacent lug. In this embodiment as well as the one illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8, the length of the bar is considerably reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a light diffuser unit adapted for closing said open end, a plurality of brackets having vertically spaced angular end portions and provided at opposed points on said housing inwardly of said open end, spring actuated retention members mounted to move in said bracket portions axially of said open end, and means releasably securing said retention members to said diffuser unit for resiliently retaining said unit adjacent the open end of said housing in open and in closing relation thereto, said retention members comprising a pair of reciprocable longitudinal extending bar members having retention spring means secured to the members and brackets, the members being provided with an intermediately positioned notch means to coact with said brackets and operative under the force of said spring means to securely lock said diffuser in a position below and spaced from said housing for servicing the interior thereof.

2. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser mounting means disposed within the housing and adjacent an open end thereof, a retention means for the diffuser comprising a pair of longitudinal bar members, a pair of brackets provided on the interior of the housing having inwardly extending flanges adapted to slidably support said bars for flexible connection with said diffuser mounting means, springs operatively connecting the bars and brackets to urge the bars inwardly of said housing, and detent means on said bars coacting with said brackets and springs to securely lock said diffuser in a position below and spaced from said light fixture for inspection of the interior of the housing, said detent means comprising a notch intermediately positioned on each of said bars and adapted to engage a projection which is fixed relative to said housing to maintain said diffuser in a fixed position beneath said housing against the resistance of said springs.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a light housing arranged for positioning in a wall recess, and having a closed end and an open end, said open end being arranged for positioning in the recess opening, a set of opposed brackets provided on opposed interior wall portions of the housing and each having an opening defined therein, longitudinally extending retractable bars extending through the openings in the brackets, spring means cooperating with said brackets and bars to move the latter longitudinally inward from said open end, a diffuser mounting frame arranged for positioning against the end opening of the housing and the wall around said recess, said bars being connected at one end to opposed points on said frame, a light beam diffuser secured within said frame, and detent means on the bars engageable with projections fixed relative to said housing when the bars are in extended position for securely locking the bars fixed in such position against the resistance of the spring means to thereby permit selective retention of said diffuser end frame in a position spaced from said housing.

4. An electric lighting fixture comprising a housing with a source of light therein and having an opening for transmission of light rays from the housing, a ring operatively fitting in said opening, a light diffuser supported in said ring for closing said opening, bars positioned in said housing in opposed relation, bracket members secured to the housing in transversely opposed relation and providing bearings for guiding said bars for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to said opening, a spring operatively secured to each of said bars urging same inwardly into the housing, means securing each of the bars to the ring, at least one of such means providing for releasable attachment between the ring and one of said bars, cooperating means on the bars and bracket members for releasably retaining the bars in an extended position against the resistance of the springs, and in which each spring encircles the associated bar and is interposed between a stop at an upper end of the bar and a portion of the bracket, and an intermediate portion of the bar is formed with a projection releasably engageable with the bracket to hold the bar in an outwardly extended position, the outer end of at least one of the bars being pivotally attached to the ring.

5. A recessed lighting fixture comprising a light housing having an open end and arranged for positioning in a wall recess with the open end susbtantially flush with the recess opening, a diffuser adapted for closing said open end, and retention means securing said diffuser to said housing including a ring for supporting the diffuser positioned to extend around said open end and the wall around the recess, spring held bars connecting said housing and diffuser supporting ring and movable between a resiliently retained position wherein said diffuser is supported adjacent said open end of said housing in closing relation thereto and a second position wherein said diffuser is dsiplaced and supported in spaced relation from said open end, said ring being provided with a pivotal connection with at least one of the bars and being detachably connected with at least the other of the bars, and cooperating means on the bars and housing operative on limited rotation of the ring to lock or release the bars in or from a position holding the ring in said spaced relation, and in which the cooperating means on the bars and housing includes a bracket on the housing having a vertical rod extending substantially parallel to the bars, a spring encircling said rod and having its lower end held against downward displacement relative to the bracket, the bar having an opening for slidab'le reception of the rod, the upper end portion of the bracket bearing on the upper end of the spring so that upon downward movement of the bar the spring will be compressed.

6. A recessed lighting fixture comprising a light housing having an open end and arranged for positioning in a wall recess with the open end substantially flush with the recess opening, a diffuser adapted for closing said open end, and retention means securing said diffuser to said housing including a ring for supporting the diffuser positioned to extend around said open end and the wall around the recess, spring held bars connecting said housing and diffuser supporting ring and movable between a resiliently retained position wherein said diffuser is supported adjacent said open end of said housing in closing relation thereto and a second position wherein said diffuser is displaced and supported in spaced relation from said open end, said ring being provided with a pivotal connection with at least one of the bars and a detachable connection with at least the other of the bars, and cooperating means on the bar and housing operative on limited rotation of the ring to lock or release the bars in or from a position holding the ring in said spaced relation, and in which the bars are mounted in brackets fixed to the hous- References Cited mg 5- t??? Z ZZ i-Zi"? Zli?-$f d Oi -lii a 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS suppor mg ar r 1 1 e 1 c n 1 movement, and a tension spring connects the upper por- 2,636,978 4/1953 wllhamson 240 78 tion of the brackets With the lower portions of the bars. 5 15 10/1958 Lelchtung 240.447

7. A recessed lighting fixture in accordance with claim 2369908 1/1929 240 147 6, in which the ring will be rcleasably held in open position by engagement of a shoulder on the bars with a portion of the brackets, and the tension spring positioned and functioning to urge the bars transversely to effect NORTON ANSHER P'lmary Exam-mgr engagement of the bars and brackets as aforesaid. D. L. JACOBSON, Assistant Examiner. 

